Reality Killed the Video Star

Main Characters: Ron W. & Hermione G.

Rating: M

Summary:After yet another row, Ron leaves out of the blue. Hermione spends almost a week waiting for him to come home, but when he does, nothing is the same. Can they save their relationship, or will it just be another angry break-up for the history books?

"'Mione, we need to talk…"

Chapter One: Bitter Taste

Hermione felt tears pricking her eyes. This is it. Ron was ending it. Over a silly little row. Problem is, it wasn't just a silly little row. It was huge. It was Lavender-Brown-6th year at Hogwarts huge. Snapping her eyes up to look Ron dead in the eyes and stepping back a few paces, Hermione plastered on her coldest look.

"You're breaking up with me, aren't you?" Ron looked at her, confusion flashing over his face.

"What? No, well, yes, I was thinking about it. That's what we need to talk about." Ron said, rubbing his neck. Hermione felt her knees begin to give, locking them together. She will not look like a fool in front of Ron, not now, not ever. Moving to the living room window, turning her back on Ron, Hermione mumbled 'Go on then'.

"I- 'Mione, look, I'm just tired of this constant fighting between us. I left because you came home looking for a fight, just to vent your frustrations about work. I made dinner, because you said I don't help out enough, and when I did something that even by my standard is seen as nice, you go nutters." Hermione turned and stared at Ron, mouth opening and closing on several occasions, making her look like a fish gasping for a spot of water.

"I'm not finished." Ron held up his hand, almost as if sensing that Hermione was about to interrupt him.

"I talked to Harry. Asked him not to tell you where I went, but I had to talk to someone. I had to get away, even if it was just for a little while. I went to see Charlie. He took a few days off work, and we hung out. Talked like we never were able to do. I was just looking to vent. I wanted to end it between us, and I wanted someone to just listen to me, without interrupting, or telling me what a git I was being." Ron cleared his throat and looked at the floor.

"He did exactly that. And after a few firewhiskeys, he told me I was being a git and sent me on my way after three days of moping around. But he said something that made me think." Ron stepped closer to Hermione, staring into her eyes. Hermione had started crying without even realizing it. "I love you, but it feels like we are suffocating each other. We're breaking down, and not even bothering to build up again. I don't want to break up; I just want us to spend some time apart. To figure out why we are together."

Hermione gasped and turned away from Ron again. He wants time apart. It's just a prelude to breaking up, that's all. Summoning all her anger, Hermione pushed Ron away from her and headed toward the bedroom. Slimy git. How could he do this to her. Especially now.

"If you want to dump me Ronald Weasley, just bloody say so!" Ron was next to Hermione in a matter of seconds. Damn his Auror training. Hermione flinched at the sudden anger in Ron's voice, but what did she expect. She yet again flew at him, screeching like a bloody harpy.

"I never said I wanted to dump you woman. I was going to suggest that I move back to the Burrow for a few days, so we figure out where we are going, before we end up hexing each other into the next century!" Hermione scoffed and Ron's face went pale.

"I'm not the one who went out in the middle of the night, without as much as a word! I'm not the one suggesting a bloody time-out. I love you Ron, but you make it hard not to want to hex your arse!" Hermione was screeching again, throwing the bedroom door open. She had never sworn as much as she did in that one sentence.

"Merlin's beard woman, would you listen to yourself? I love you damn it. That night you went on your harpy rampage, I was about to propose, but you wanting to pick a fight, made me reconsider." Ron pulled a small dark blue box out of his pocket and tossed it on the bed. "You made me want to change Hermione, you made me want to be a better man. But I'll never be enough for you. This life we have been living for the last four years will never be enough for you. You don't want a boyfriend Hermione, you want a punching bag, and I'm sorry, but I'm not going to be your bloody doormat anymore. So you either meet me at Picasso's Pub tomorrow night, or I swear I'll plat a boggart in your closet!"

Ron turned and disapparated, leaving Hermione staring at the empty space Ron was occupying a few moments ago. Turning her head toward the bed, Hermione saw the box. Legs giving out under her, Hermione fell to the floor sobbing. It felt like her heart had been ripped out of her chest. Crawling into the fetal position, pulling Ron's shirt over her knees, Hermione fell into a fit of spastic cries.

Night slowly turned into day as a knock on the front door brought Hermione out of her self induced coma-like state. Shivering slightly, she got up off the floor, not even noticing that she had stayed there all during the night. Getting her robe from the bathroom, Hermione headed to the front door, glancing at the clock on the kitchen wall. 6:32 am.

Unlocking the front door and pulling it open forcefully, Hermione started crying as soon as she saw Ginny turning to look at her.

"What did that git do?" Ginny started yelling almost immediately upon seeing Hermione. Turning toward the living room to just crawl onto the couch, Ginny followed Hermione, kicking to door shut. Hermione fell onto the couch, pulling her knees into her chest again, crying softly, until she felt Ginny's hand on her arm, a steaming cup of tea pushed under her nose.

"Thanks Ginny." Hermione's voice sounded more like a whisper from all the crying. "What happened? Mum owled in the middle of the night, saying Ron was over at the Burrow. He nearly broke the shed down." Hermione wiped her eyes and recalled the nights events to Ginny.

"I think- Maybe he had a point Hermione." Snapping her head up, Hermione gaped at Ginny. "Hear me out okay. He's been under a lot of pressure lately. The stress is bending him. Him and Harry. With Harry's accident last month, Ron stepped up to the plate, taking all the responsibility they usually shared. Death Eater activity has spiked too. And you, you're busy with work too. You two fight more than you ever have, and it's just getting worse. I get where he's coming from" Ginny's voice dropped to a whisper then.

"He loves you Hermione, more than anybody can ever realize. You changed him for the better. He wants to marry you, and you want to marry him too, but don't you think that figuring out why you want to marry him is important too?" Hermione stared at the floor, nodding slightly.

"Just-" Ginny sighed. "Don't give up. Fight for what you want, and if it is indeed Ron you want, let him know that, okay?" Hermione only nodded again.

Hermione and Ginny sat talking for a few hours, until they both had to get ready to head off to work. Mondays were slow, and neither was told to attend the early morning meetings, so work started at 11. Gulping down a potion to make her hair more manageable, Hermione looked at her reflection. She was wearing dark grey slacks, a white button up shirt and a matching grey jacket. Pulling on her black strappy heels, and giving her make-up a once over, Hermione Apparated to an alley just outside of the ladies loo that was being used to head into the Ministry.

Straightening her clothes, Hermione made up her mind. She wanted Ron. Needed Ron. Even if it meant going along with his silly time-out suggestion. Ignoring the dull ache in her chest, Hermione put on a happy face and headed for work. No use moping around, right? Right?

There we go. It's a shortish chapter, but I seriously enjoyed writing it after the day I had. Anyway, please drop a review if you enjoyed it. And please, please let me know where you guys want to see this story go, because I have no direction as of yet.

Much love

Mary :)